Surgical variables affecting swallowing in patients treated for oral/oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Postoperative swallowing function may be influenced by a number of treatment variables; this study examines the relationship of various treatment factors to measures of swallow function.

Methods: Swallowing was examined with the modified barium swallow procedure in 144 patients surgically treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer 3 months after healing. Univariate and multivariate correlations were used to examine the relationship between swallowing function and treatment.